Friday

February 29, 2008, Milk and Honey

Milk and Honey

Numbers 14:8 If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Leviticus 20:24 But I said to you, "You will possess their land; I will give it to you as an inheritance, a land flowing with milk and honey." I am the Lord your God, who has set you apart from the nations.

Numbers 13:23 When they reached the Valley of Eshcol, they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs So when we feel as grasshoppers and see the giants as an obstacle how can we go into the land and possess it? Rich in abundance there for us within our reach.

We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37

Now this is nothing like my first entry which I 'accidently' deleted and obviously it wasn't meant to be. When I get my focus off the obstacle or the giants then I can see who I realy am in Him. I am more than a conqueror.

The art is great in this one. For those that like a slower, softer worship this is it.
Video & Song
'There Is None Like You' WOW Worship
http://youtube.com/watch?v=eHKVzWOybgw&feature=related

Thursday

February 28, 2008, You Are Holy

Adoring Him, Worshiping Him, Honoring Him

You are the King of Kings. You are Holy and there is no other. You heal the brokenhearted, you died that we might live and have life more abundantly.

We know this but one thing that has to be asked, is the knowing a programming? Or is it a true understanding that transforms us?.

I can't think of any better way to get out of programming than to compare translations of scripture. This helps me use another part of my brain to get it in my heart over and over again. It isn't by rote or memorization. It's fresh and truth and is God's word in our modern language. And after all, the bottom line for me, I initially searched in a modern language bible 30 years ago because it spoke directly to me and my heart.

Hebrews 11:1 The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. 2 The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd. 3 By faith, we see the world called into existence by God's word, what we see created by what we don't see.

and


Romans 10:17 The point is, Before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ's Word is preached, there's nothing to listen to.

____The Message


Now faith is, and faith without works is dead, and faith comes by hearing...but when we hear these words can we really hear them? I remember back when I was resistant to hearing and didn't want to hear. It wasn't until someone reached out to me and loved me as I was and I could see it was genuine, it was Jesus in them. There was nothing attached to it, nothing demanding of me about it, nothing saying, 'you better change or you're going to hell', it was just love. And the wonderful thing about it all, when I gave my life to the Lord at that time the transformation is still occuring 30 years later. And in that time it was never a man or a woman or family member or sister or brother that said 'you must do this as a Christian, the bible says so'. It was being nurtured in the Word and encouraged in the Word and the gentle nudging of the Holy Spirit to bring me gentle conviction. And as I wanted to please Him whom I became very aware of what He did for me and what that meant, the old 'woman' began to fall off, and I gladly layed it down at His feet. Why would I want to hold on to anything that displeased Him, 'once I saw it in His light'.

And in this continuing birthing and dying every day, sometimes many times a day, I am putting on strength until the day I stand before Him.

Video & Song 'You Are Holy'
Michael W. Smith
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zYHzeoO_9KM

Wednesday

February 27, 2008 Test and Laying It Down

Test and Laying It Down

(And so with my entries, I speak in first person you and will hear it in first person. And if you are in the same place, I encourage you as we encourage each other.)

Day by day as I realize I haven't come to a point of letting it all down, the tests reveal it all. The most difficult test are those that show me the strongholds that somehow had been a cover up for deep hurt of which I still am unable to see totally. And will not completely, ever, as they are a continual work. The strongholds are that because I made it that. A protective barrier in order not to feel, or think. And amazingly in all the strongholds there is still the Light that shines through the cracks of those walls that I know is His light that has never let me down, He will never hurt me, abandon me, abuse me, reject me. Overcoming the flesh and the mind can never be let down. It is a moment by moment test to pass or not pass. And whether or not I pass or don't pass, He will never let me down, He will never hurt me, abandon me, abuse me, reject me, and will always love me.

So I keep coming to the place of 'not' understanding with each new test. It is because in the test I have not eyes to see with, nor a heart to understand to pass this test, until I lay it at His feet and leave it there.

To be broken is a good place. It is time to rest in His arms.

Being transformed by the renewing of my mind. Romans 12:2

Video & Song
'All Things New' by Steven Curtis Chapman
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9_Q3NrB_eHM

Tuesday

February 26, 2008, Isaiah 53

'Isaiah 53'

1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. 9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. 11 After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

This is all I am to do this morning. To look at this long and hard until His arm is revealed.

Video & Song
'Wonderful Cross' Michael W. Smith
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_9oIJUK8QLA&feature=related

Monday

February 25, 2008, Dream Dreams

Dream Dreams

I can say without a doubt that this time every morning is so profound and life changing. As always the words that come to me in my dreams and sleep or as I awake are primarily what I share each morning. So in the scriptures where 'old men shall dream dreams' or 'women' I guess I must be getting there, that is, old. But I welcome it and resist it at the same time. Praying that I would somehow be like Moses when his eyes were not dim nor his body had not lost its natural vigor at 120 years of age! (Deuteronomy 34:7) Could that be possible for me?

My morning sleep ended with going back to last night.
It came back to me, a vision in church, as I saw a purple mantle, but could not see who was under the mantle. Usually when I see what the Lord is giving me I have the answer before the end of the service. This time I thought it wasn't Him since nothing came to me beyond seeing the mantle. The vision was clear and stayed with me for most of the service. I kept asking the Lord, who's is this, why am I seeing this? I thought about the royal purple vision that my pastor shared that was for someone on one Monday evening and began to think about that. On that evening the Lord gave me a word (at the very end of the meeting) that the purple the he saw was for him, in his higher calling and the Lord said "I cover you" three times within the message.

(Longing for a mantle to be passed to me. I feel like Elisha following Elijah and not giving in to leaving until Elijah's mantle fell from heaven on him. Who's mantle will I catch?)

Continuing to dream about the actual service from last night for women's ministry, our pastor's daughter shared her teaching and it was profound, on holding on to the things of the past (and girl, I can relate to this as I see events are being set in motion for me to be completely set free from things of the past). I went up to her after the service and she said to me, "it was for her speech class". So I told her, 'it was an anointed message". Then, I told her "your father's mantle is on you". After saying that I noticed the color purple I was seeing was the exact shade of purple of the mantle she was wearing (and me being an artist and knowing color as I do, when I saw the mantle I was trying to break down the color, because of the shade of purple, to see if there was a message in the color itself,). The mantle I saw was hers.

In the early morning I began to dream and hear about a 'rumbling' as an earthquake. A shaking. Is one coming? To my mistake I didn't get up at 1:00am as I should have. This is a lesson for me. In my commitment to give the Lord first fruits I must commit to get up and write or type what I am hearing from the Lord, no matter how physically tired I think I may get from doing so. I experienced recently and shared in one earlier entry as I was waken every hour in the morning as I was hearing His voice. That morning I was obedient.

Each day brings a new dawn.

Psalm 46:1-5 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song for Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.

Video & Song
'New Dawn' Daniel Kirkley
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kcF7DjZ5yIg

Danile Kirkley/My Space
Awesome Songs!!
http://www.myspace.com/danielkirkley

Sunday

February 24, 2008, Be Still

Be Still

Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

Exodus 14:13a And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today.

I spent way too much time searching for information pertaining to force and acceleration. Something that wouldn't make my brain feel like it was going to explode. But with that, the point The point I wanted to make is standing still is the point of the most force. If objects are in constant motion the standing still is continual and this spiritual insight I believe is as we stand still we are in constant motion or communion with our Creator. He created and the force of His creation that spoke everything into existence is in constant motion and will always be in constant motion. The pendulum is in constant motion (Hi, Jim, couldn't help it) but there is a point of acceleration after the 'standing still'.

I absolutely love the story of Moses and think of it often. As he stood on the banks of the Red Sea, he stood still and the water parted, the force was the hand of God, 'exalted in the earth', the same force that created and spoke everything into existence. I am not a mathmetician, my brain is not capable of even beginning to try to measure the universe, talk about something that would give me a headache. But I do know according to the Word the force that parted the sea as Moses 'stood still' was the force of God's hand!

How's that for standing still, acceleration and constant motion.

Video & Song
'Still' by Hillsong
http://youtube.com/watch?v=B2aM4HUbzlo&feature=related

Saturday

February 23, 2008, You Take Me As I Am

You Take Me As I Am

Lord, You take me as I am. How can I understand? How can I understand this love? And how can I fully understand what You mean when You say, "Love yourself"? Your transcending love overpowers all evil, all shortcomings, all that is in me. My mind, my flesh are unable to comprehend, only my spirit within me resonates with understanding all You have for me. You have made us in Your image, how can I understand this, completely understand? You take me as I am, even when I am unable to take myself. Even a child loves to hear and is secure when their Father says "there is nothing you can do that will stop me from loving you, nothing". The Phoenician woman who understood, even the dogs get the children's crumbs that fall under the table. What a revelation for someone who lives out ultimate religious persecution and rejection as he or she seeks You, even a portion of Your love will complete and in this case a child suffering from a demon. (Matthew 7)

Lord, You take me as I am, there is nothing I can do that will stop You from loving me, nothing. Your love completes me and makes me whole.

Matthew 22:36-40
"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

I must add a recent Video & Song againIt is so powerful!
"Mighty To Save' by Hillsong
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sR8rlTIU8_Y

Friday

February 22, 2008, He Is Calling Us

He Is Calling Us

Song of Solomon 2
14 Come, my shy and modest dove - leave your seclusion, come out in the open. Let me see your face, let me hear your voice. For your voice is soothing and your face is ravishing. 15 Then you must protect me from the foxes, foxes on the prowl, Foxes who would like nothing better than to get into our flowering garden. 16 My lover is mine, and I am his. Nightly he strolls in our garden, Delighting in the flowers 17 until dawn breathes its light and night slips away. Turn to me, dear lover. Come like a gazelle. Leap like a wild stag on delectable mountains!
_____The Message

Ephesians 2
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. ____KJV

Psalm 103
17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; 18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. ____KJV

How could I possible not go here often? What a incredibly beautiful description of the desire and passion and drawing to each other, our souls with the Lord. He calls us from His throne to be with Him in heavenly places. Look at what He desires for us in His incomprehensible grace. We are so unworthy to even speak His name, even speak His name! Or to come before Him and seek His face or search for Him that He would answer. His mercy is everlasting to everlasting and His righteousness is 'unto children's children' - that is all generations for those that keep His commandments. What an awesome place to love and live and abide in His love and awesome presence. What a communion!

Video & Song
'Word of God Speak' by Mercy Me
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9Yx4eT7ZxZk&feature=related

Thursday

February 21, 2008, Set Apart

Set Apart

Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

1 Peter 1:
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

Psalm 4:
1 To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David. Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer. 2 How long, O you sons of men, Will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness And seek falsehood? Selah 3 But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly; The Lord will hear when I call to Him. 4 Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah 5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the Lord.

Romans 12:21
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Lord, I am Yours, there is no other. I choose to not be conformed to this world, to be set apart for you, help me to stand on the Rock, You who are my salvation. Show me Your ways, I want to please You every moment of every day. Use me as I seek Your perfect will in my life.

So, this is a first in my entries to speak about being set apart. That is to be holy and be an example of His Word and who He is, to be the best example of Him and His Word that I am able to be. That in everything I do, to make every effort to be a woman of God, pleasing to Him in all my actions, my speech, my walk, and in the blessings that come with this, that all who see me may see Him. It is impossible to be perfect as the flesh is in the way but the Word says that the Spirit can overcome the flesh. but I feel there is not much time and we must be an example in our reaching out to those seeking and lost to give them His Truth. And in teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I must be filled with Him and His Holy Spirit. Reaching out in love and give them the whole Truth, not just part of the Truth. It is possible in my every day actions and choices to choose not to be a part of blatant sin. It is not that difficult, it is a choice and if I am condemned and ridiculed and persecuted for my choices, the Lord Himself said we would be for His Name. We know about the apostles, the prophets and modern day disciples of Christ who endured persecution. And in these days, if it means to be persecuted for Him, I am willing and ready. There is no compromise, I will be an example for Him in my choices as much as He gives me grace to endure, Which He does and will, that is His promise. He gives and I choose. I choose to live His Word and all that are His promises.

Video & Song
'Mighty To Save' by Hillsong
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sR8rlTIU8_Y

Wednesday

February 20, 2008, Everything For Life

Everything For Life

Isaiah 9:6b And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

What a description of our Lord and our God. He is everything necessary for life. When our lives fail, He is our Wonderful Counselor, we can give it all to Him and He guides our steps. He is our Mighty God, who else can compare, who is above His name? None. He is Everlasting Father, the beginning and the end, always was, always is and always will be. When our earthly father has failed, He never will. Prince of Peace, He is higher and higher, His train fills the temple, the angels cry 'Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord'. He is Peace, the Holy Spirit. He is our Comforter in times of distress, He is our God, Our Lord and Savior. He is the fountain of life, the river of life flowing down from His throne above.

Psalm 41:13 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel From everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen.

Video & Song
'Come Thou Fount', Jars of Clay
http://youtube.com/watch?v=4f7tx25O9XM&feature=related

Tuesday

February 19, 2008, The Secret Place

The Secret Place

Psalm 91 1-2 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."

One day in our women's bible study during prayer I had a vision of meeting Jesus in a secret place and it was a garden. Day after day I realized it was a place where He waited for me to visit Him. Every day I would go there in prayer and visit Him. Day after day, week after week, it was so beautiful. I would kneel at His feet, hold onto him, sit with Him, talk with Him, cry on Him and He would listen so lovingly and patiently. One day I didn't go, day after day, week after week, my days became busy and I was caught up in the mundane. When I remembered the secret place and went to meet my Lord, I looked, He was still there patiently waiting, He had never left. I cried realizing what had happened, I had not taken the time to go to Him everyday, but He had never left and He always waited for me. Once again I would go to Him each day. We would talk and I would kneel at His feet and hold onto Him. Then one day something happened. In my trials and time of difficult testing I stood in the garden and didn't feel worthy to approach Him, He stood up and came to me and held me.

This painting (link below) was emailed to me by my dad many months later, it took my breath away as I realized it was like my 'secret place'.

Painting
http://picturesofjesus4you.com/

Video & Song
'I Want To Know You More' Reana Nel
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Zx3C_4Q6mP0

Monday

February 18, 2008, Morning Desperaton

Morning Desperation

Psalm 119:147 I rise before the dawning of the morning, And cry for help; I hope in Your word.

Many who have known me throughout my life can attest to the fact, I am not a morning person. Every excuse in the book included my 'artist's schedule', staying up late and sleeping late. Then after my commitment to give Him first fruits of my day and being 'desperate' to be in His presence and experience Him more I realized the first fruits of my day of my entire life had been tucked away in late morning sleep. And as this new year approached, I committed to give Him first fruits of my day. And, wow, did everything change, in my experiencing Him more as I sought Him. Because just getting up early, is just that, but now in rising early I search for Him and find Him.

What an awesome experience and awesome journey.

Video & Song
'Breathe' by Michael W. Smith
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Oad8ov10AjY

Sunday

February 17, 2008, Meantime

Meantime

Romans 8:37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Yes, 'nothing else will matter' when that day comes that we are caught up with Him. But in the meantime we must learn to live 'between' yesterday and tomorrow. Preparing and being strengthened and 'becoming' more like Him. Finding a place of total peace that only comes by His Holy Spirit. The One He left for us, our strength.

As we live in this time 'now' avoiding the demons that try to destroy us, running from them like a dog with its tail tucked under its legs, the reality is, they have no power over us. We need to face them and stand and believe and know that there is a reason to keep our armor on (Ephesians 6). And if our steps are ordered and He is our rear guard, what is there to fear? And if we are fearless in whom is this fearlessness? Ourselves? Another person? God? Boy, if it is an ego thing or in another person we are in trouble when there's a breach in our wall!! You'll need a shovel to scrape up the mess. But when our strength is in Him and by His Holy Spirit we are more than conquerors... And YES, I CAN do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Yes, I can!.

So in the meantime, know who you are, know where you stand and know there is The Mighty Warrior, Savior, standing and fighting for you. His name is Jesus.

Video & Song
'Savior King' by Hillsong
http://youtube.com/watch?v=nXeTKCo2ky4

Saturday

February 16, 2008, The Writing On The Wall

The Writing On The Wall

The Word of God is living and anyone who dares to read and eat of it will live. The bread of life; the river of life flows from the throne of God. Written by His hand, given to us that we may have life and have it more abundantly. For exhortation, for encouragement, for guidance, for decision, for our future, for our eternity. Jesus came that we should have life more abundant in Him (John 10:10). He is the bread of life, the Alpha and Omega, there is no other. The interpretation and the writing on the wall is clear. It is by the Holy Spirit that we receive interpretation of this book of a Most High God.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Daniel 5:5 In the same hour the fingers of a man's hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote____. :8 Now all the king's wise men came, but they could not read the writing, or make known to the king its interpretation_____ (then they called Daniel for the intrepretation) :25 "And this is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. 26 This is the interpretation of each word. Mene: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it; 27 Tekel: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting; 28 Peres: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians."

Video & Song
'Here I Am To Worship' Chris Tomlin
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-63Uw8DyXGQ

Friday

February, 15, 2008, Nothing Else Will Matter

Nothing Else Will Matter

I can only imagine what it will be like. He will come again, that is His promise and in a twinkling of an eye. There will be no time to get ready. Like the virgins that kept oil in their lamps and their wicks trimmed, they waited for their Groom. He is coming for His bride! Matthew 25

'You are in your car driving home. Thoughts wander to the game you want to see or meal you want to eat, when suddenly a sound unlike any you've ever heard fills the air.

The sound is high above you. A trumpet? A choir? A choir of trumpets?

You don't know, but you want to know.


So you pull over, get out of your car, and look up. As you do, you see you aren't the only curious one. The roadside has become a parking lot. Car doors are open, and people are staring at the sky. Shoppers are racing out of the grocery store. The Little League baseball game across the street has come to a halt. Players and parents are searching the clouds. And what they see, and what you see, has never before been seen.

As if the sky were a curtain, the drapes of the atmosphere part. A brilliant light spills onto the earth. There are no shadows. None. From whence came the light begins to tumble a river of color spiking crystals of every hue ever seen and a million more never seen. Riding on the flow is an endless fleet of angels. They pass through the curtains one myriad at a time, until they occupy every square inch of the sky.
North.
South.
East.
West.

Thousands of silvery wings rise and fall in unison, and over the sound of the trumpets, you can hear the cherubim and seraphim chanting, Holy, Holy, Holy. The final flank of angels is followed by twenty-four silver-bearded elders and a multitude of souls who join the angels in worship.

Presently the movement stops and the trumpets are silent, leaving only the triumphant triplet: Holy, Holy, Holy. Between each word is a pause. With each word, a profound reverence. You hear your voice join in the chorus. You don't know why you say the words, but you know you must.

Suddenly, the heavens are quiet. All is quiet. The angels turn, you turn, the entire world turns and there He is.

Jesus.

Through waves of light you see the silhouetted figure of Christ the King. He is atop a great stallion, and the stallion is atop a billowing cloud. He opens his mouth, and you are surrounded by his declaration: I am the Alpha and the Omega.The angels bow their heads. The elders remove their crowns. And before you is a Figure so consuming that you know, instantly you know: Nothing else matters.

Forget stock markets and school reports.
Sales meetings and football games.
Nothing is newsworthy..
All that mattered, matters no more.... for Christ has come. . . '

____'When Christ Comes', Max Lucado

Video & Song
"The Days of Elijah" by Twila Paris
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-YYIHIqdSkk

Thursday

February 14, 2006, This Is Love

This Is Love

1 John 4: 7-21 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love, But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

And with this there is nothing else to be said with this perfect Valentine's dawn.

Video & Song
'Power Of Your Love"
Rebecca St James
http://youtube.com/watch?v=eA4narr2wyE&feature=related

Wednesday

February 13, 2008, Put On Love

Put On Love

Colossians 3:12-27 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Psalms 51:10-13 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.

Lord Jesus Christ, give me a heart like Yours, let Your Word become life in me. Show me Your ways.

What a glorious gesture to reach out and touch and hold a heart, to be vulnerable in both receiving and giving. To lay it all down for the sake of a brother or sister. In searching and learning and being transformed, I become more transparent. And as I become more transparent, I am healed. Not physically, although the manifestation of physical healing does come with inward healing. When pain and hurt and inner scars of the heart are caressed and gently held. And in becoming more transparent it is a mirror for others to reach out in their pain, they then can feel safe to reach out. The purging of the Lord's fire is renewing, and restoring and healing. In my ever increasing understanding of laying it all down and submitting to His perfect will, I am continually being transformed.

Video & Song
'Renew Me' by Avalon
http://youtube.com/watch?v=MIez_hIjmkU&feature=related

Tuesday

February 12, 2008, The Names of God

The Names of God

Adonai-Jehovah -- The Lord our Sovereign
El-Elyon -- The Lord Most High
El-Olam -- The Everlasting God
El-Shaddai -- The God Who is Sufficient for the Needs of His People
Jehovah-Elohim -- The Eternal Creator
Jehovah-Jireh -- The Lord our Provider
Jehovah-Nissi -- The Lord our Banner
Jehovah-Ropheka -- The Lord our Healer
Jehovah-Shalom -- The Lord our Peace
Jehovah-Tsidkenu -- The Lord our Righteousness
Jehovah-Mekaddishkem -- The Lord our Sanctifier
Jehovah-Sabaoth -- The Lord of Hosts
Jehovah-Shammah -- The Lord is Present
Jehovah-Rohi -- The Lord our Shepherd
Jehovah-Hoseenu -- The Lord our Maker
Jehovah-Eloheenu -- The Lord our God

The "I AM's" of God

I AM
I AM THAT I AM
I am a father to Israel
I am a great King
I am alive for evermore (Jesus)
I am Alpha and Omega (Jesus)
I am for you
I am from above (Jesus)
I am God
I am God Almighty
I am gracious
I am he
I am he that comforteth you
I am he that doth speak
I am he that liveth, and was dead (Jesus)
I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts (Jesus)
I am holy
I am in the midst of Israel
I am married unto you
I am meek and lowly in heart (Jesus)
I am merciful
I am the Almighty God
I am the bread of life (Jesus)I am the door (Jesus)
I am the door of the sheep (Jesus)
I am the first and the last
I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob
I am the God of thy fathers
I am the good shepherd (Jesus)
I am the light of the world (Jesus)
I am the living bread (Jesus)
I am the LORD
I am the LORD, and there is none else
I am the Lord GOD
I am the LORD in the midst of the earth
I am the LORD that doth sanctify you
I am the LORD that healeth thee
I am the LORD that maketh all things
I am the LORD that smiteth
I am the LORD, the God of all flesh
I am the LORD thy God
I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt
I am the LORD thy God that divideth the sea
I am the LORD thy God which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go
I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit
I am the LORD which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness
I am the LORD which hallow you
I am the LORD, your Holy One
I am the resurrection, and the life (Jesus)
I am the root and offspring of David (Jesus)
I am the Son of God (Jesus)
I am the vine (Jesus)
I am the way, the truth, and the life (Jesus)
I am their inheritance (speaking of the priests)
I am thy exceeding great reward
I am thy part and thine inheritance (said to the Levites)
I am thy salvation
I am thy Savior
I am thy shield
I am with thee
I am with thee to deliver thee
I am with thee to save thee
I am with you alway (Jesus)

How awesome is our God, He reigns! His name is above all names, there is no other. Everlasting, Counselor, Provider, Healer, our everything.
Last night at a revival at our church, I had a conversion. I continue to thank God for leading me to this place of being purged and in the fire because without my total submission to His perfect will, I don't believe I would be able to experience all He has for me. These experiences seem to be coming more frequently as I search my heart deeper and deeper to know Him more and more. As the gift of tongues and manifestation of the fire of the Holy Spirit, the Cloud of Glory came down during closing prayer at the altar and I saw His light 'in' my eyes. I had never experienced this before. My pastor said the first thing that came to his thought was Paul. In the joy of my experience over the evening and this morning there is no doubt this was a part of my continuous conversion in Him, continuously dying to myself and continuously being born again. And we did have healings manifested and miracles! There is no doubt, I will go back for more!

If my experience was like Paul's, I understand his zeal and urgency in his heart to proclaim His word and healing to the captives to give them the good news that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of all.

Lord use me. It is time, because there is no time. Words that rang in my ears one night in my sleep and I sat straight up with a loud voice 'time, there is no time'.

Video & Song
'Your Name' Phillips, Craig & Dean
http://youtube.com/watch?v=T2qm3eD4akM

Monday

February 11, 2008, Declare His Beauty

Declare His Beauty

One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.
Psalm 27:4


Jesus, Your love it takes my breath away. I can only image to be forever in His presence and gazing on His beauty. Oh that I might be able to experience in this present life, to truly gaze on His beauty for a moment and still live.

I submit to Your call to "follow You". I totally submit to Your perfect will in my life. To take Your good news to the broken hearted, those imprisoned, to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, find shelter for the homeless, welcome the foreigner in our land, to help the orphans and the widows, to heal the sick. To love those hurting in spirit and bring Your good news to set them free from their pain that they may be saved and find your grace and glory and strength in their lives; for those low in spirit that they may believe and be lifted up and see You, My Lord and My God.

Greater things we will do because You are at the right hand of the Father.

I will dwell in Your presence all the days of my life, forever.

Video & Song
'Beauty of the Lord' Desperation Band
http://youtube.com/watch?v=4NvHz6wrkq0

Sunday

February 10, 2008, Reach, Touch, Every Kindness & Loving Service

Reach, Touch, Every Kindess and Loving Service

God can do anything, you know - far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Ephesians 3:20

The following is from the book The Shack and was shared in an entry by a man who pulled this for us to read because he deeply has this heart for others. It will definitely be my next book. And it is for anyone that has a heart for a 'new revolution' and understands 'the call to follow Him' and 'chooses to go'. To leave everything and take nothing but the message of Christ's love. What an awesome walk!
___________________
"Mack, if anything matters, then everything matters. Because you are so important to me, everything you do is important. Every time you forgive, everything changes; every time you reach out and touch a heart or a life, the world changes; with every kindness shown and loving service done, seen or unseen, my purposes are accomplished and nothing will ever be the same again."

"If you ever get a chance to hang out with Mack, you will soon learn that he's hoping and living for a new revolution, one of love and kindness - a revolution that revolves around Jesus and what he did for us all and what he continues to do in anyone who has a hunger for reconciliation and a place to call home (THAT WOULD BE A BIG AMEN!). This is not a revolution that will overthrow anyone or anything external, or if it does, it will do so in ways we could never contrive in advance. Instead it will be the quiet daily powers of dying and serving and loving and laughing, of simple tenderness and unseen kindnesses, because if anything matters, then everything matters."

__ The Shack

Oh if we could really see!!!! Hoping for a new revolution.

Video & Song
"In Christ Alone"
Phillips, Craig & Dean
http://youtube.com/watch?v=rrim6EAnolw

Saturday

February 9, 2008, Abbastanza

Abbastanza

Lord I pray that You would give me wisdom to deeply know Your truth, to truly know Your voice and to be steadfast in Your love.

'Abbastanza' in Italian it means 'enough', used for expression of fullness or being satisfied. As in, 'ho satisfatto, or sono abbastanza' - I am satisfied. I wish!! But what I realized, the literal translation in English as you break up the word, could mean and probably does mean 'abba - Father, and stanza - room and a probable broader translation - house'. In the process of being 'filled up' in other words, when I am satisfied or have 'enough' I am with my Father, in His house or in His room, in the 'secret place' of the Most High God. It is the only place I am satisfied when I transcend my human mind, to be in my Father's house in my spirit, and will one day be fully with Him.

As we have been planted in this life for a purpose and live in this world, but not part of the world, we become depleted. There is no other place to be totally 'satisfied' or to be totally satiated in this life except by starving for Him and His Word and devouring His Word to the point of 'abbastanza'.

In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. John 14:2

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:10

Video & Song
'Adonai' by Avalon
http://youtube.com/watch?v=IpGEdgQ-dow

Friday

February 8, 2008, He Carries Me

He Carries Me

Lord I thank You, as I look down the sand before me has no footprints, You are carrying me and I see Your feet walking below me. It's is so beautiful and I can rest in You knowing my steps are laid out by You as I surrender to You. As I am unable to see ahead in the sand, only Your feet walking in the sand, also I am unable to see the future and I am able to rest knowing you are carrying me and You are my Shepherd and I am Your lamb. I surrender to You.

This is the kind of life you've been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step. He never did one thing wrong, Not once said anything amiss They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you're named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls. 1 Peter 2:21-25 The Message

Painting
Del Parson
http://www.delparson.com/gallery_pages/lost_lamb.html

Video & Song, 'He Will Carry Me', Mark Schultz
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_xKK7FyrhK4&feature=related

Thursday

Februrary 7, 2008, A Child of The King

A Child of The King

Thank you Lord for reminding me that I am Your child, a child of the Most High God. I never want to do anything that is displeasing to You. Let me be an example to a world hurting and lost that they may desire to know You as they see You in me.
I am Your child, a child of The King.

Thank you Lord, You renew me day by day. As I stand before You and truly surrender to You without the fear which holds me back, You set a rainbow before me, Your promise of so much more, You set before me life, I chose life.

I am the Lord, your Holy One, Israel's Creator, your King." Isaiah 43:15

For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. Psalm 95:3

My prayer is, 'Your will, be done' How safe, how wonderful, how beautiful! And to think I was afraid of surrendering to Your perfect will, which I always thought I had, but hadn't! Thank you for showing me.

I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me. Isaiah 57:2

Video
'That's My King'
A Child of The King
http://youtube.com/watch?v=upGCMl_b0n4

Video & Song
'Amazing Love'
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LNBZXzN0tLU

Wednesday

February 6, 2008, Surrender

Surrender

There is one concept that cannot be taught. And as the Lord has put within me the desire and the ability to teach my gifts and a desire to teach His word and His wonderous ways to set free those in prison and those that are hurting, I realize there is one word that cannot be taught, 'you', that is 'you surrender'. This cannot be taught, only understood and experienced as the Lord gives it to us. 'Surrender' that comes from within our own hearts, a point of relinquishing. And for me to 'surrender' is unto the Lord. To be able for the first time in my life to truly say 'Your will be done, Lord, not mine'.

There no longer can be walls that I hold up or my own safe place that I create. For 'surrender' to happen, I had to lay everything down even my security.

As I pray, 'Your will be done Lord, not mine,' I truly believe in Him and trust in Him, He is here.

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. Philippians 4:7-8

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple Luke 14:26-27

And to add to the beauty of it all, this is a day of remembering. A day of beauty, when the Lord gave me a precious boy, February 6, 1982. His name is Joshua Lucas and a wonderful man serving God with all his gifts and capacity. How blessed he is, and how blessed Ken and I have been as parents, that God would see us worthy to give us Josh to care for him and love him and watch him grow into the man for God. Josh, you are awesome in His sight, and awesome in our sight. We love you!


Video and Song
Flower in the Rain, Jaci Velasquez
http://youtube.com/watch?v=EA69xAUrNTA&feature=related

Tuesday

February 5, 2008, You Are My God

You Are My God

O God you are my God and I will ever praise You.

For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined. Psalm 66:10 NKJ

A Praise of David. I will extol You, my God, O King; And I will bless Your name forever and ever. Psalm 145:1 NKJ

He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. Psalm 40:2 NKJ

Don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I'm your God. I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you. Isaiah 41:10 The Message

It doesn't matter the circumstance I praise you regardless. You are my Lord, my God, my King, my Savior, my Deliverer, my Healer, my Stronghold, from everlasting to everlasting.

Video & Song
Be Lifted High, Michael W. Smith
http://youtube.com/watch?v=vQ_fmtnOV0k&feature=related

Sometimes by Step, Rich Mullins
http://youtube.com/watch?v=eeFwHhgx2L4

Monday

February 4, 2008, Painted Pictures

Painted Pictures

As I am continually working on this place of experiencing the fullness of this call on my life I come to a place of total peace and trust Him that all things will work together for good, because I do love Him and I am called according to His purpose, Romans 8:28

1:19am
As I am in a pit, He reminds me that He is holding my hand in the pit. This time is necessary, it is my preparation. And as I lay in the pit with my back against the wall of the pit He sits with me in the darkness and He is my light regardless of my eyes' reality. For now I must walk by faith and not by sight, 2 Cor 5:7; now I must call those things that be not as though they were; now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen Hebrews 11:1. Joseph was in the pit and He was lifted out of the pit with still another journey to come. It was the beginning of his call, the beginning of his purpose. Everywhere I go, everywhere I listen, in every message I hear, God is saying to me, 'follow me'. "Lord I hear You, here I am, to do Your will, completely do Your will, I surrender all to You."

3:48am
A hand swiftly painting stalks for wheat startles me and momentarily takes my breath. I must allow Him to paint, one of the stalks of wheat is me and I must not take the brush and paint. The wheat is beautiful and golden, it is being painted by Him, the harvest is almost ready.

4:25
The hand that holds its own heart surrenders it to the Almighty as an offering to Him; he is consoled and consoles.

Blackness or darkness that engulfes us is overtaken by white the spectrum of glorious colors which flood our existence.

One Faith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgYguIi7fMI

Sunday

February 3, 2008, Dry Places

I endure and hold on

Dry Places

The desert, a hot, dry place, little life exists, but there is life. In the silence compared to noise, you can actually hear yourself breathe. And the life that does exists is extraordinary, durable, strong; scorpions, lizards, snakes. The desert plant life draws moisture from deep roots or by storing up water from the infrequent rains. And when the rain comes even dormant plants spring up in their beauty. Nothing would destroy these plants other than completely digging them up and even then they would live. Have you ever taken a cactus and left it out of the soil for any length of time? It doesn't die and if it does it is because it was forgotten for a long period of time.

So, if I am to see myself in this life as a desert plant, I can understand the dry times. If my roots run deep in the Word of God or I have taken the time to store up His Word in my heart, and the rain is a symbol of His Word (which by the way is not infrequent but omnipresent, it is life), then I too will live a long life in the 'Son'.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13


All Things New, Video and Song
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9_Q3NrB_eHM

Saturday

February 2, 2008, Eyes That See

Eyes That See

Matthew 20:29-34 Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!" Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!" So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, "What do you want Me to do for you?" They said to Him, "Lord, that our eyes may be opened." So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.

How absolutely beautiful! in their crying out, Jesus had compassion, He stopped, He asked them "what do you want, me to do for you?". As I have been so caught up with His compassion and being able to see what it all means, I too say, "have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David, heal me, that my eyes may be opened." It may not be a physical blindness, but it has been a spiritual blindness. In the deepest part of my own healing both spiritually and emotionally, He had compassion on me and touched my eyes. I received sight and I am "following Him".

"I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles,To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the prison, Those who sit in darkness from the prison house."
Isaiah 42:6-7


And He Did.

I See You, Michael W Smith, Video & Song
http://youtube.com/watch?v=U25fyuQvfqk

Added:
To Ken, The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever. Isaiah 40:8; 10/22/80

To Edna, here's your peach rose.

February 1, 2008, Fire

I was really in the fire. I missed posting this entry yesterday.

Fire

For sacrifice, for light, to burn, to consume, to purge, for cleansing, for destruction

In the bush, in the cloud, on the mountain, in the desert, in a pillar, on the altar, in the furnace, in the censer, in an offering, in a separation, in my heart, in my bones Jeremiah 20:9, in Zion,

A place where you see His face, hear His voice, the unquenchable fire, His word, where He answers you.
In offering and sacrifice, meat, grain, fat, aroma, incense, my heart, my being.

Exodus 24:17
To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain.

1 Kings 18::24
Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire--he is God."

Leviticus 9:24
Fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.

Ezekiel 15:7 I will set my face against them. Although they have come out of the fire, the fire will yet consume them. And when I set my face against them, you will know that I am the Lord.

Daniel 3:22 The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,

Daniel 3: 25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."

I have been thinking about Shadrach, Meshech and Abednego and how when put into the fiery furnace they were not consumed and a fourth was seen with them, the Lord.
In this glorious time, in the fire, which does not destroy those seeking Him; for those who love the Lord; a time to see Him face to face; to talk with Him as in the burning bush; to see Him in a pillar of fire. This is not the fire of hell but the fire of transformation. It is in the fire I see His glory and still live. It is the unquenchable fire of His Holy Spirit. It is the fire of sacrifice and offering in His sanctuary where I dwell with the Most High God.
Who can understand Him and His unquenchable fire?

Jesus, Lover of My Soul, Video and Song
http://youtube.com/watch?v=dD-ZdMOx_HY&feature=related